1. Prepare Oven and Muffin Tin:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.

2. Combine Dry Ingredients (Cupcakes): Sift the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking cocoa, baking soda, and salt together twice.

Place the sifted dry ingredients in a large bowl.

3. Combine Wet Ingredients (Cupcakes):

In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, canola oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.

4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture.

Drizzle in the hot brewed coffee.

Beating until smooth. Be careful not to overmix the batter.

5. Fill Cupcake Liners: Fill the prepared muffin cups about three-fourths full.

6. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18-20 minutes.

7. Cool: Cool the cupcakes in the muffin pans for 10 minutes.

Before removing them to wire racks to cool completely.

8. Make the Strawberry Filling:

While the cupcakes are cooling, make the strawberry filling.

Place the freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor.

Process until a fine powder forms.

In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with an electric mixer until creamy.

Beat in the confectioners’ sugar, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, salt, and the strawberry powder until smooth.

9. Fill the Cupcakes:

Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry bag.

Insert a very small tip. (Or, use a zip-top bag and snip off a tiny corner).

Fill the pastry bag (or zip-top bag) with the strawberry filling.

Push the tip through the bottom of the paper liner of each cooled cupcake.

Squeeze a small amount of filling into the center of each cupcake.

10. Make the Ganache: Place the semisweet chocolate chips in a small bowl.

In a small saucepan, bring the heavy whipping cream just to a boil.

Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips.  

Let stand for 2 minutes.

Stir with a whisk until smooth.

11. Dip Cupcakes in Ganache:

Dip the tops of the filled cupcakes in the ganache.

Let stand until the ganache is set.

12. Garnish (Optional):

If desired, garnish the tops of the cupcakes with slices of fresh strawberries. Serve and enjoy!